Radon is...
Odorless | Colorless | Tasteless | Deadly
A naturally occurring radioactive gas, Radon is present in the air we breathe and the water we use for drinking, bathing and cooking. At high level, Radon is a serious health hazard, second only to cigarette smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, estimated to cause about 21,000 deaths in the United States each year. Of all these lung cancer fatalities, just under 3,000 occurred among people who have never even smoked. Radon is as unpredictable as it is dangerous.
What are the symptoms of Radon contamination?
Unfortunately, there are no symptoms like rash or headache or fever that clearly indicate the presence of Radon. In light of the serious dangers posed by Radon contamination, the fact that you can’t see it, smell it or taste it until it has affected your health at a very advanced level is particularly insidious. The only way to know you’re safe from Radon-related lung cancer is to test for Radon.
How does Radon enter a building ?
Radon can seep into your home from the soil beneath the foundation, through dirt crawl spaces, through cracks in the foundation and walls, floor drains, pipes and sump pumps. Well-based drinking water can also be a source of Radon in your Middle Tennessee home.
How could Radon in the well water enter my property?
Water for drinking, cooking, bathing or when running your dishwasher or washing machine allows Radon gas to escape from the water into to the air, increasing the Radon level in the air you breathe. The primary danger of Radon in water operates through inhalation. Still, ingestion is dangerous as well, and believed to be responsible for a number of stomach cancers each year.
If I don't live in a high Radon area, am I safe?
No absolutely safe level of Radon has been determined. Nonetheless, if you following the EPA recommendation or the World Health Organization’s recommended level of 2.7 pCi/L is a good standard to follow. Even homes in low risk areas for radon can have high Radon levels. Approximately 15% of U.S. homes have Radon levels above the 4.0 pCi/L, the level at which the EPA recommends Radon mitigation. The only way to know if your home or property is safe is to have a professional Radon test performed.
My new home has no cracks or other openings. Do I still need to test for Radon?
Radon is a gas, and therefore can seep through tiny cracks that you might not even see. It can get into finished or unfinished basements, and into new homes as well as old. You won’t know if it’s in your home unless you do a Radon test.
My builder said my new home is Radon resistant. I’m safe, right?
Well…. unless you, the builder or a home inspector has tested your new home for Radon, that’s not necessarily true. A quick explanation: although your new home may brandish the name “Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC)”, what RRNC means is that the home has been fitted with of Radon system pipes without a Radon mitigation fan, rendering it “Radon system ready”, but without the installation of the fan, the home is still vulnerable.
What’s the best method for testing for Radon?
The best way to be sure your home is safe and protected from Radon is to hire a certified Radon testing professional like From the Ground Up Inspections. At From the Ground Up, we can test your home for Radon, and if necessary devise a professional Radon mitigation plan to make your property safe and Radon free. Contact From the Ground Up Inspections to schedule a consultation for all your Middle Tennessee radon testing and home inspection needs at (615) 351-1922.
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